Rumble!
The sky above the Tai Xuan Sect became shrouded in rolling thunderclouds, as if a torrential storm was about to descend. The change in the heavens was so abrupt that the disciples working diligently in the Third Medicine Valley began hastening their tasks, sensing the ominous pressure.
Gu An descended from the pavilion, his gaze fixed in the direction of the battlefield. He could feel that Xuan Tianyi had one foot firmly stepping into the threshold of the Wandering Immortal Realm, and this development piqued his curiosity about the Fierce Demon's sealed domain.
"What lies beneath that could drive the Fierce Demon to such heights? There must be some secret," Gu An mused, his thoughts drifting.
Could it be possible that even the Fierce Demon possessed the ability to evolve his lifespan into cultivation power?
As these thoughts churned, Gu An prepared to act. He decided to intervene once Xuan Tianyi finished dealing with the eleven Loose Immortal from the Seven Stars Spirit Realm.
Over the battlefield, Gu An sensed a massive heavenly might condensing. It was clear that Xuan Tianyi was about to undergo a tribulation.
"Tsk, the range of a Loose Immortal's tribulation is massive," Gu An muttered, observing the immense thunderclouds above. This gave him a clearer understanding of the terrifying power of celestial tribulations. The tribulation unleashed by the Fierce Demon spanned the entire continent, a testament to its overwhelming magnitude.
If the Loose Immortal-to-Wandering Immortal tribulation was already so catastrophic, Gu An couldn't help but wonder: What kind of force would the tribulation from Wandering Immortal to Heaven and Earth Flying Immortal unleash?
Suddenly, a sharp dip in the number of Loose Immortal presences signaled the first death at Xuan Tianyi's hands.
Where there was one, there would be more.
The second Loose Immortal fell shortly thereafter. The rapid loss of two comrades forced Lin Lu Ancestor, who had been healing, to take immediate action. He plunged into the depths to support the battle.
Gu An, however, remained focused on the heavenly tribulation. He could sense the five elemental energies of heaven and earth converging into the thunderclouds above, flowing at astonishing speed toward the site of Xuan Tianyi's trial. The elemental energies swirled together, steadily building the divine might of the heavens.
The third Loose Immortal fell.
Each soul consumed by Xuan Tianyi bolstered his strength, and Gu An could sense two distinct demonic energies roiling within a single body.
"Could it be that Xuan Tianyi and the Fierce Demon are vying for control over the same body?" Gu An speculated, his caution sharpening. If Xuan Tianyi's soul showed signs of succumbing, he was prepared to intervene immediately.
For a mortal, the distance between the Tai Xuan Sect and the demonic battlefield would be insurmountable in a lifetime. For Gu An, it was but a single step.
Back in the valley, the disciples began gathering, discussing the ominous thunderclouds above and their potential implications.
Meanwhile, Lu Lingjun remained secluded in the pavilion, focusing on her cultivation as if entirely detached from the outside world. Since her return, she had been in continuous retreat, never leaving her chamber.
Rumble!
The flashes of lightning and rolling thunder above terrified the disciples of the Tai Xuan Sect. Many felt they were within the range of the tribulation and could be caught in its devastating effects.
Liang Canghai acted decisively, ordering his disciples to retreat. After all, their presence could do nothing to aid the Seven Stars Spirit Realm, and safeguarding their lives took precedence.
Had it not been for the call of the Seven Stars Spirit Realm, the Tai Xuan Sect would have opted to fortify the three dynastic borders instead, gathering a stronger collective force.
Lü Baitian was also leading his disciples away when Ji Hantian approached him.
"I just remembered something—Xuan Tianyi once succumbed to demonic influence as a youth," Ji Hantian said in a low voice.
Lü Baitian cast him a cold, warning glance, silencing him instantly.
Ji Hantian, feeling aggrieved, muttered, "I thought you two didn't get along. Turns out you were just pretending all these years?"
Lü Baitian, as the sect master, had often played the role of a disengaged leader, while Ji Hantian, as the vice sect master, harbored ambitions of leadership. Many elders had expressed their preference for Xuan Tianyi to succeed as sect master, leaving Ji Hantian resentful. A shared disdain for Xuan Tianyi had once united him and Lü Baitian, fostering what he believed to be a genuine alliance.
However, it was all a façade. The struggles for power were always superficial, and their cordial interactions in public masked the undercurrents of rivalry.
"Stop speaking nonsense. Is this the time for such discussions?" Lü Baitian reprimanded harshly, cutting off Ji Hantian's complaints.
Boom!
A deafening explosion from behind startled them both. They turned, but the distance was too great to discern the source of the disturbance. Yet the oppressive demonic aura emanating from the battlefield chilled them to their cores.
At that moment, a disciple shouted, "Look at the sky!"
Everyone gazed upward, astonished to see vibrant rays of light breaking through the thunderclouds. Within the shimmering radiance, scenes from the battlefield were vividly projected. Blurred figures moved with lightning speed, their awe-inspiring techniques and divine abilities leaving every viewer in shock.
Many sects began to slow their retreat, choosing to watch the battle unfold from a safe distance.
An Hao, Li Ya, and Zhang Buku were among those who paused.
Zhang Buku's eyes were filled with longing as he murmured, "Will I ever reach such heights in this lifetime?"
An Hao, however, was consumed with worry, his gaze brimming with hope that Xuan Tianyi might yet escape the Fierce Demon's control.
Under the gaze of countless cultivators, each time Xuan Tianyi paused to devour a soul, the celestial projection above would zoom in, broadcasting the chilling process to all. The image of him consuming the soul of a Loose Immortal left onlookers shivering in fear.
Even more unsettling was the appearance of Xuan Tianyi himself. His face now displayed two distinct expressions—his left side radiating arrogance and cruelty, while his right side was etched with pain and anguish. The dichotomy made him appear even more horrifying and unnatural.
Time continued to flow relentlessly.
In the end, only Lin Lu Ancestor remained alive. Witnessing his final Loose Immortal companion's soul being extracted, Lin Lu Ancestor abandoned all thoughts of resistance. Just as he turned to flee, Xuan Tianyi caught him. This time, there was no escape.
"You… can't…" Lin Lu Ancestor stammered, his voice trembling. His primordial spirit was locked within his body, preventing him from escaping. He couldn't muster the strength to free himself from the hand gripping his head.
Before he could finish his sentence, he crumpled lifelessly to the ground.
Xuan Tianyi devoured his soul, his body surging skyward. Sitting cross-legged in midair, he ascended higher and higher until he hovered amidst a storm of billowing dust, the force of which seemed to engulf the entire world.
Above, the celestial projection continued to expand, eventually covering the entire continent. Every sentient being, human or demon, froze in terror, staring at the vision above and debating the identity of the figure within.
The demonic form of Xuan Tianyi became deeply imprinted in the hearts of all living beings.
In the Third Medicine Valley, the disciples were in an uproar. Some who recognized Xuan Tianyi were struck with disbelief.
Gu An, turning away from the sky, strode toward the teleportation platform.
The Blood Prison Saint lay on the ground nearby, observing the unfolding chaos with great interest.
"As expected of the Heavenly Spirit World… this tribulation is beyond exaggerated. And that Fierce Demon—how powerful," the Blood Prison Saint mused, his heart filled with awe.
Despite the calamity, he remained unperturbed, resigned to his fate as a captive.
His gaze followed Gu An as he activated the teleportation array and vanished. Mistakenly assuming that Gu An was headed to the Xuangu Valley to monitor the situation, the Blood Prison Saint paid him little mind.
Arriving at Xuangu Valley, Gu An conducted a cursory inspection before departing once more.
As the battle raged on, only the sound of thunder echoed across the heavens and earth.
The allied sect cultivators of the Three Dynasties came to a halt, their leaders gathering to discuss their next move. It was obvious that the Fierce Demon was undergoing a tribulation.
Should he succeed, the consequences would be catastrophic.
However, with the Seven Stars Spirit Realm utterly annihilated, their options were limited.
One disgruntled voice complained, "The Sacred land has countless cultivators. Why did they send so few for this? Were they looking to die?"
Every century, the younger generation of various sects traveled to the Seven Stars Spirit Realm for training. They all knew the Sacred land's true strength far surpassed the meager force dispatched here.
To send so few, and to involve others in their folly—it was nothing short of suicidal.
Many shared this sentiment. Though the Seven Stars Spirit Realm's reputation was formidable, it couldn't erase the skepticism and anger of these seasoned cultivators, who judged based on actions rather than flowery words.
Liang Canghai took a deep breath and said, "Enough. The priority now is determining our next steps to stop the Fierce Demon from completing his tribulation."
Silence engulfed the group.
The disparity in cultivation was too great—they had no chance of success.
Finally, one Dao Monarch spoke up. "I have divined that the destiny of the Three Dynasties is not yet extinguished. Perhaps there will be a turning point. The Seven Stars Spirit Realm, being an ancient Sacred land, will not leave this matter unresolved."
This reassurance brought a measure of relief to the group.
The Dao Monarch's words carried significant weight, and most present trusted his judgment.
Lü Baitian, however, remained silent, his gaze fixed on the celestial projection above.
Time passed agonizingly slowly for those on the battlefield. Cultivators across the Three Dynasties felt the suffocating tension, watching the Fierce Demon's tribulation unfold. Many prayed fervently for Xuan Tianyi's failure.
An Hao sat cross-legged on the ground, meditating to restore his spiritual energy, his eyes never leaving the sky.
Zhang Buku and Li Ya did the same, though their thoughts were consumed with questions about Xuan Tianyi's cultivation. Could any one individual truly command such a grand tribulation?
Hovering high in the sky, Xuan Tianyi's body was wreathed in dark, churning demonic energy. From the earth below, tendrils of magic drilled upward, piercing through layers of dust and rock to pour into his form, driving his aura to ever-greater heights.
"Xuan Tianyi! Have you forgotten your claim to be a righteous hero of the Dao?"
A voice, tinged with both anger and despair, cut through the tumult.
A battered and bloodied Ji Xuanling emerged from the swirling dust, his eyes fixed on Xuan Tianyi as he cried out.
Xuan Tianyi's right eye opened slowly, his brow furrowing. One side of his face twisted with visible struggle, a shadow of his former self emerging in fleeting moments.
Then his left eye snapped open, cold and ruthless, its gaze locking onto Ji Xuanling. The sheer murderous intent radiating from that one glance sent shivers down her spine.
Xuan Tianyi's lips moved faintly. With great difficulty, he uttered two words: "Run… away…"
As the words left his mouth, his right eye closed, and his expression once more unified into a visage of cruel savagery.
He raised his right hand, extending it toward Ji Xuanling.
"Primal Five Element Divine Thunder Tribulation! Who would have thought this abomination could summon one of the Ten Great Ancient Tribulations?"
A voice as commanding as the heavens themselves echoed across the entire continent, shaking all who heard it to their cores.
Every living being, regardless of strength or station, instinctively bowed their heads in reverence.
Ji Xuanling turned, wide-eyed, to the sky. The thunderclouds above parted violently, creating a massive vortex. From within the vortex descended a blinding figure, radiant with divine light.
The descending figure bore down on both Xuan Tianyi and Ji Xuanling, forcing them into a freefall. The earth below, already reduced to wasteland, caved inward under the immense pressure, forming a colossal crater.
Boom!
Xuan Tianyi, now sitting in the center of the massive pit, looked upward at the figure before him. For the first time, his face reflected something other than arrogance or cruelty—his eyes were filled with fear.
It was the first time he had ever displayed such an emotion.